Portable hoisting machine



Jan. 13, 1931. F. J. SHEPARD. JR. ET AL 1,739,025

PORTABLE HOISTING MACHINE Fil e Oct. '1 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. I

'- invenTors: Freder'agk d. Shepard Jr.- Nothuniel WQTShfiW byawd MVW ATTys.

Patented Jam 1'3, 1931 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK J'.' SHEPARD, J'B., OF AUBURNDALE, AND NATHANIEL WABSHAW, OF

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO LEWIS-SHEPARD COMPANY, OF WATER- TOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS PORTABLE HOISTING MACHINE Application filed October 17, 1928. Serial No. 313,018.

This invention relates to improvements in portable hoisting machines and the object thereof is to provide a simple and convenient device for raising articles to a considerable height and transporting them from one place to another.

More particularly the object of the invention is to provide a-hoisting machine of this character which is adapted to be used for assembling and removing relatively heavy articles from a recess or receptacle, such for example as for removing the power unit of a refrigerating plant from the refrigerator. In certain types of refrigerators the power unit iscontained in an upper compartment of the refrigerator and is introduced and removed through the top thereof. Such a power unit is of considerable weight and fits quite closely within the upper compartment of the refrigerator. It is consequently difiicult to assemble in and remove the same from such compartment. The resent invention is designed not only to acilitate such assembling and removing of the power mechanism in factories where the refrigerators are assembled, but also which will be of convenient size and character to be transportedto houses and apartments where such refrigerators are in use and readily employed to remove the power unit for repair or replacement.

Another object of the invention is to rovide a hoisting machine comprising a ase frame Wl1iCl1 1S formed of structural steel bars weldedtogether to produce a light, in-

. tegrai, rigid construction.

' of the machine for tion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable hoisting machine of this character with a standard formed of assembled structural steel members, preferably in the form of channel bars, adapted to provide a guideway for a load-supporting means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a standard construction which can be readily attached and detached from the base purpose of transporta- Another object of the invention is to provide a hoisting machine of the type described with a novel orm of load-supporting means comprising a vertical sliding member mounted in the standard having at its upper end an arm overhanging the base so that the articles to be raised may be supported at a considerable distance from the standard. By virtue of this construction the base -frame of the hoisting machine may be inserted beneath. a refrigerator and between the legs thereof and the end of the overhanging arm positioned above the power unit, or other article to be hoisted, so that when the latter is attached thereto the load-supporting means may be elevated to raise the article out of its receptacle and the hoisting machine thereafter removed to transport the same to another convenient place, or, where the article, such as the power unit is to be introduced into a chamber, such as the open top of a refrigerator, the power unit may be supported upon the overhanging arm and carried by theportable hoisting machine into such position that it can be lowered directly into the chamber without danger of injuring the walls thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of load-supporting means formed of assembled, structural bars o plates Welded together to provide a rigid, but light construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a load-supporting means of this character having an overhanging arm which is so constructed that the overhanging arm canbe raised above and lowered below the' upper end of the standard.

Another object of the invention is to provide the 'overhangin arm with 'sim 1e and convenient means w ich may be rea tached and detached to the standard and to the article to be hoisted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a preferably integral frame conily atstruction with novel means for securing the supporting wheels or casters thereto.

These and other objects and features of the'invention will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, a portion of the standard bein manner in which the load-supporting means is guided'and supported therein;

Fi .2 is a front elevation of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1;

' pair of parallel, structural steel side bars 1 Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 4'is an enlarged-transverse sectional view on. line 4-4 Fig. .1; and,

.Fig. 5 is an enlarged pers 'ctive view of a portion of the vertical sli ing member of the load-supporting means and the overhanging arm extending therefrom, portions bein broken awa to 1llustrate the manner in w ich the arm is connected to the vertical sliding member.

One of the principal objects of the invention, as above stated, is to-provide a light hoisting machine of rigid construction comrising a base,.a standard which preferably 18 detachably connected thereto, and a loadsupporting means of light construction desira ly havingan overhead arm overhanging the base and preferably so constructed that the load-supporting means can be read-- and 2, preferably inverted angle bars which are connectedtogether at their rear ends by a structural steel bar, preferably an angle bar 3 havin its ends extending beneath the horizontal anges of the side bar and welded both to the horizontal flanges and to the vertical flanges of the side bars. The front ends of the side bars are connected by an an le bar girder 4 which rests upon the horizontal flanges of the side bars and is weldedthereto along the outer and inner edges which overlap the horizontal flanges of the sidebars.

.At the front end of the frame angle plates 5 and 6 are secured to the vertical flanges .of the side bars 1 and 2 As shown, the vertical flanges 7 and 8 of these angle plates are welded to the side bars both along the, front ends of the side bars and along the rear edge of the vertical flanges of the angle plates and along the lower edges thereof, thus providing a rigidconstruction in which the horizontal members of the angle; plates extend outwardly from the side members. a Ball bearing brackets 9 having casters 10 are secured to the under faces of the horizontal flanges 5 and 6 by bolts 11, thus providing broken away to show the a /some wheel supports for the front end of the base frame.

A shaft 12 is mounted in the vertical flanges of the side members 1 and 2 adjacent the rear end of the frame and rollers 13, preferably having ball bearings are rotatably mountedon the shaft 12. The ends of the shaft 12 desirably extend slightlythrough the verticalflanges of the side bars and'are Welded thereto.

The construction thus produced provides a light and very rigid integral base frame.

The standard in the preferred construction illustrated comprises two vertical channel bars 14 and 15 which are reversely arranged with their respective flanges extending toward each other and in alinement and are spaced apart to provide a guideway for the load supporting means. The lower ends of these vertical channel bars are welded to an angle plate 16, preferabl both alon the top, the rear and bottom of the vertical fl ange of the angle plate, and the horizontal flange 17 of the angle plate desirably rests upon and is secured to the horizontal flanges, of the side members by bolts 18. A plate 19, forming a brace, is welded at its uppe end 20 to both front flanges of the channe s and its lower end 21 is secured to the vettical flange of the angle plate-4 by a bolt '22. By reason of the fact that both the angle plate 16- at the base of the standard, and the brace 19, are detachably secured to the frame, the standard iseasily removable for the purpose of transportation.

The vertical channels 14 and 15 of the standard are connected together near their upper ends by an angle plate 23, the vertical flange of which is welded to the rear flanges of both vertical channel bars. Plates 24 and 25 are welded to the extreme upper ends of the webs of the channel bars and extend forwardlv and are drilled near their forwardly extending ends to receive a shaft 26 of a sheave 27 beneath which the horizontal flange of the angle plate 23 extends andserves to catch any drippings of oil from the shaft of the sheave. A winch-supporting bracket is secured to the front flan es of the channels of the standard, p'referab y about midway of the length of said standards. In the, preferred construction illustrated this bracket comprises a base 28 which is securely welded -to the front flanges of the channel and has laterally extending flanges 29 and 30 in which the'shaft 31 of a referably spirally rooved drum 32 is rotatably mounted. The rum 32 is provided with a worm gear 33 which is engaged by a worm 34, the shaft 35 of which is molmted in bearin s 36 and 37 which are welded to the inner ace of the flange 29 of the bracket.

4 The load-supporting means comprises a vertical member preferably in the form ofa hollow rectangular bar 38 which is slidably no t separated flanges of the c annel bars 14 and 15 forming the standard.

An arm 39, which is rigidly secured to the upper end of this vertical member or her extends rearwardly and overhangs the base frame, and desirably is provided at its outer free end with a plate which isrigidly secured thereto, having at its ends preferably detachable means which may be connected to the article to be hoisted.

In the preferred construction the vertical slidin member 38 is formed of a structural steel c annel 41 having a metal plate 42 engaging the edges of the flanges and secured thereto b lines of welding 43 of suitable length and spaced apart at suitable distances, (See Fig. 5). The horizontal arm 39 comprises a channel bar 44 of similar construction having a plate 45 engaging and welded to the edges of the flanges of the channel bar 44. The end 46 of the lower flange of the arm 39 rests upon the upper end of the vertical rectangular sliding member 38 and is secured thereto by lines of welding along'the abutting surfaces.

In this construction the channel bars de sirably are first welded together before the plate 42 is welded to the channel bar. 38 or the plate 45 welded ,to the channel bar 44 and the plate 42 may extend to the upper face of the upper channel of theoverhangmg arm and welded along the abutting edges to increase the rigidity of construction, while the plate 45 of the overhanging arm may abut against the side of the plate 42 at its upper endand be welded thereto.

By virtue of this construction the loadsupporting means comprises two hollow rectangular bars integrally connected forming a structure of relatively light weight and of maximum strength and rigidity. The plate 40 desirably is welded to the end of the overhanging arm 39 and is provided near its ends with notches 47 and 48 adapted to receive means for flexibly supportingthe article to be carried from the plate.

Any suitable supporting means can be provided. As illustrated herein such supporting means comprises rods 49 having'at their upper ends hooks 50 which engage the notches and at their lower ends other hooks 51 which desirably are disposed at right angles to the position of the hooks 50. These rods may be of any suitable length.

Suitable anti-friction means are provided for guiding the vertical member 38 of the load-supporting means in the standard. The

preferred means comprises a shaft 52, which extends through apertures in the lower end of the vertical member 38, and-is provided with rollers 53 which engage the outer faces of the rear flanges of the vertical channels forming the stan ard. A shaft 54, which is welded to the front face of the vertical load-supporting member 38 at a distance from its end, is provided with rollers '55 which'engage the inner faces of the same bars forming the vertical standard as are engaged by the rollers 53. A rod 56 is welded to the lower end of the member 38 and also engages the inner faces of said flanges.

A cable 57, which is connected at one end to a winch, extends over the sheave 27 and thence downwardly in the space between the channels forming the standard and at its lower end extends through a hole in the front wall of the vertical member 38 of the load-supporting means and is knotted or otherwise secured to the load supporting means.

In the operation of the device, the base frame of the truck, which is mounted upon casters and is very low, is backed beneath the refrigerator, platform or other device which supports thearticle to be lifted. The loadsupporting means is then lowered by turning the handle of the winch until the depending rods or other connecting members can be readily attached. to the article to be raised. These depending hooked rods desirably are so spaced that. they can bev readily introduced into the compartment of the refrigerator and attache to the power unit which is located therein. To hoist the device, the winch is wound up in the usual manner and the article raised to the desired height. The hoisting machine may then be rea ily pushed or pulled to the place at which it is desired to deposit the article which has been hoisted and the load-supporting means lowered by turning the handle of the winch in an unwinding direction. By reason of the fact that the winch is operated through a worm and gear, special locking devices are unnecessary. 4

By virtue of the construction above described, the overhanging arm can be raised to a considerable height above the top of the. standard. This permits the use of a relatively short standard which will enable thehoisting machine to be passed through a doorway or beneath low-studded ceilings.

By virtue of the light construction of the hoisting machine, it can be readily trans ported in trucks and used in private houses and apartments to remove the power unit from refrigerators, and also may be used for such other purposes as may be required.

By reason of the detachability of the loadsupporting means from the standard and the detachability of the standard from the frame, the hoisting machine can be readily crated for shipment in a minimum space. There are obviously many other features of practical advantage in construction and operation than those heretofore described.

It willbe understood that the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein is of an illustrative charextending upwardl from said frame in proximity to one en thereof formed of channel bars having their respective flanges facing each other and in alinement and so spaced apart that the edges of the rear flanges provide a guideway, load-supporting means comlar metallic bar prising a vert1cal rectan slidably fitting in said gui eway having antifriction guiding means engaging respectively the inner and outer faces of the rear flanges of said channel bars, a rigid arm extending rearwardly from the upper end of said sliding member and overhan mg said frame, and means for raising ans lowering said loadsupporting means.

2. A portable hoisting machine com rising a wheel-supported-base frame, a stan ard rigidly connected to and extending upwardly from said frame in proximity to one end thereof formed of channel bars having their respective flanges facing each other and in alinement and so spaced apart that the edges of the rear flanges provide a guideway, loadsupporting-means, comprising a vertical hollow' metallic bar of rectangular cross section formed of a channel bar havin a metal plate welded to theedges of the anges of. said channel, slidably fitting in said guideway, and a similarly formed hollow arm welded to the upper end of said vertical member overhanging said frame, and means for raising and lowering said load-supporting means.

3. A portable hoisting machine com ,rising a wheel-supported base frame, a stan ard rigidly connected to and extending upwardly from said frame in proximity to one end thereof formed of channel bars having their respective flanges facing each other and in alinement and so spaced apart that the edges of the rear'fianges provide a guideway, loadsupporting means, comprisin a vertical hollow metallic bar of rectangu ar cross section formed of a channel bar having a metal late welded to the edges of the flanges o the channel, slidably tting in said guidewa a shaft welded to the outer wall of said vertical member at the lower end thereof having rollers engaging the outer faces ofthe rear flanges of the channel bars forming the standard, ashaft welded to the inner wall of said vertical member at a short distance from the lower end thereof having rollers engaging the inner faces of said flanges, a rigid arm extending rearwardly from the upper end of said vertical member overhanging said frame, and means for raising and lowering said loadsupporting means.

4. A ortable hoisting machine comprisin a whee -supported base frame, a standar rigidly connected to and extending upwardly low metallic bar of rectangular cross section,

formed of a channel-bar having a metal late weldedto the edges of the flanges ofthe c annel slidably fitting in said guidewa a shaft welded to the outer wall of sai vertical member at the lower end thereof having rollers engaging the outer faces of therear flanges of the channel bars forming the standard, a shaft welded to the inner wall of said vertical member at a short distance from'the lower end thereof having rollers engaging the. inner faces of said flanges, a rigid arm extending rearwardly from the upper end of said vertical member overhanging said frame, a; winch mounted on said standardfa'sheave mounted at the upper end thereof, and a cable extending from said winch over said sheave and connected to the lower end of said member.

ortable hoisting machine comprising sligirrg a whee -supported base frame, a standard formed of structural steel channel bars secured to and extending upwardly from said base. frame and havin their respective flanges facing each ot erand narrowly spaced apart to provide a guideway, load' supporting means comprising a hollow rectangular metallic bar slidably fittin in said guidewa provided at its u per end with a rearwar y extending rigi arm overhanging said frame and having upper and lower antifriction members engaging respectively the innerand outer faces ofthe rearflanges of said channel bars, a bracket welded to the front flanges of said channel bars, a winch drum having a shaft mounted in said bracket, a worm gear connected to said winch drum, a crank shaft mounted in said bracket having a'worm engaging said worm gear and operable upon rotation'of said crank to rotate said drum, a sheave mounted u on the upper end ofsaid standard, and a ca le consaid sheave and connected at its other end, to

the lower end of said bar.

In testimony whcreof, we have signed our names to this s ification.

FRED RICK J. SHEPARD, JR.

NATHANIEL WARSHAW. 

